anyone no how to treat knee cartlage tear and how long it takes to heal.

Busting to get back in the water

thanks jezza

thank you for advice booked in to see knee doctor hes a busy man booked out for a month thanks jezza

Simondo said...

Rest, and go see a doctor. MRI scan is useful to locate exact problem.

You can live with some minor cartilage tears... but it can cause your joint to wear out years before it should, and worst case, your knee can unexpectedly seize. I think this happened to an AFL player in pre-season.

But after an MRI, you might be recommended to go in for "arthroscopic surgery". They put you under anesthetic, pump fluid into the knee, and go in 'key-hole' with a mini camera and mini equipment. They can clean up the joint, put in a little stitch, take out loose cartildge, etc... You'll be walking within days (or the very next day), and you should be fine to resume life within 1-2 weeks, maybe 3.

MRI can ensure no damage to other ligaments too.... If ACL is torn, you might be looking at 6 months....

Can you weight bare ?? If you are avoiding the doctors, and you have not seen significant improvement within 1 week to 10 days, then it is definitely time to go and get it checked out.

You could ease back in with flat-water paddles. I would be resisting the surf.... try a short paddle after doctors all clear. Then see if the knee reacts to it.... if not, try a medium paddle, then a long one, then small surf.... etc.....

(PS - I'm not a doctor, don't sue me , my first advice was rest, and see a doctor)

See someone who has Graduated from a University ... Preferably a University which specializes in knee doctoring .. not a bunch of Jokers on a surfing website ....

But "website advice" from someone who 7 weeks ago had an ACL blow up is ( after you have seen a specialist ) IS ... rest the little Bugger .... Im walking around with a steel brace on my knee to stop it from flopping to the side .. Mick D knows all about It !!!!! and where to get knee supports ....

LynT, are you calling us all a bunch of jokers, or just me ??!!

Jezza, I know you got my drift... I just outlined the potential what if, basic procedures, and rough rules of thumb for recovery from an arthroscope.

If it is causing you grief, try and get an appointment with someone else, so you don't have to wait 1 month. Private medical insurance should speed up the time to get "under the knife" so to speak (if that is required).

General sequence of events may include;
See the doctor, who potentially refers you for an MRI Scan
Doc rings back to give you basic outcome of MRI (if you are lucky, it all ends here!)
Perhaps go back to the doc for a referal to the surgeon
See surgeon, he decides what is next, perhaps books a surgery time
Go in for surgery, arthro is usually a day trip, in and out.
Then more appointments and physio....
Plus a visit to Medicare to get some money back, or a visit to the bank to cash in all the cheques from medicare !!

BUT, well worth it to get the knee right....

Or;

You might get to MRI stage, and in 1 month, it might be feeling much better anyway.... no surgery... "Light Knee Damage" or Grade 1 tears, should feel better in 1-2 weeks, with rest.... And you might be back on the water in 3-4 weeks (rough guess), which is why it is better to get the ball rolling this week ! (if you can) Not in 4 weeks....

What did you do ???

The knee is an extremely complex beast.... stacks of ligaments and tendons to stretch and tear, or snap. Cartiledge to crush or tear, bones to bruise (you can get impact bone bruising in the joint...)... minor bone cracks just near the knee, which can give mixed feedback to the patient and even to the doctor. You can potentially put a mini crack on the head of the fibula, which gives the indication of a medial sprain, but the doc would do a medial test, and potentially say the medial seems ok, but you have pain on the medial side.... the MRI is the ticket though, it answers all of the questions !

Here's a bit more reading. Good luck.
www.kneesurgery.com.au/knee/common_complaint_common_id=10.html